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EXCLUSIVE … LUNA+EISENLA LAUNCHES: Brad Luna and Kristofer Eisenla are launching a new strategic media communications company, the two partners tell PI. LUNA+EISENLA will combine Luna Media Group and EISENLA|media —creating a client roster of organizations who work in the transportation, small-business, tax reform, social justice, political and education arenas. “We bring a diverse set of experiences and capabilities that directly benefit our clients and their goals,” said Luna in a release. “We are not only driven by achieving results, but we are actively engaged in implementing every aspect of our client’s project. We are a part of the team, not just outside consultants.” Added Eisenla: “We believe that communications and media plans should be built to be implemented from beginning to end.”

Luna has done stints on Capitol Hill and served as the director of communications for the Human Rights Campaign. He also ran Rep. Brad Carson’s 2004 Senate race in Oklahoma and served as Carson’s director of communications on the Hill. Eisenla was previously a vice president at the Washington public affairs firm Widmeyer Communications. He’s also served as deputy chief of staff and communications director for Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and director of communications for Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.). He also worked on Carson's Senate campaign, as a spokesman. In addition, he served as deputy communications director for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s presidential campaign in Iowa in 2003. The new firm’s client roster will include the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the Center for Information and Research on Civics & Learning at Tufts University, Small Business Majority, GetEQUAL and the Washington Blade, among others.

DRINKER’S TRIBAL PRACTICE JUMPS TO POWERS PYLES: Brian Gunn, Paul Moorhead, and Kevin Wadzinski have left Drinker Biddle & Reath for Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, according to an email obtained by PI. Gunn made an announcement Friday to colleagues and friends.The three attorneys ran a tribal law practice at Drinker that included a lobbying component. Gunn is listed on eight lobbying contracts in 2013 for Drinker Biddle, while Wadzinski is listed on seven. Gunn did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PI. Drinker Biddle recently rebranded its lobbying team as District Policy Group.

HARTLEY INKS FIRST CLIENT: Former Cassidy & Associates lobbyist Gregg Hartley has signed his first LDA client at his new firm, Cloakroom Advisors. The telecommunication company AT&T has signed Cloakroom to work on spectrum auction and availability issues, as well as reauthorization of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Internet tax freedom. It’s AT&T’s second lobbying hire this year; it added Jefferson Business Consulting this January for telecommunications help. Hartley, a former chief of staff to Sen. Roy Blunt, and William Fox, formerly of the House Transportation Committee, will work on the account for Cloakroom. Hartley announced he was leaving Cassidy in November as part of a major transition in leadership at the firm.

GOOD MONDAY AFTERNOON where it’s the 144th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment. The constitutional amendment guarantees all citizens the right to vote, regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude (read: slavery). Send your lobbying news, gossip, tips and scoops to btau@politico.com. And keep up with PI on Twitter by following @ByronTau or @PoliticoPI.

BLUE ENGINE ADDS TWO: Strategic communications firm Blue Engine Message & Media has made two new hires. The firm is bringing on Tiffany M. Edwards, former press secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee and deputy press secretary for the Department of Energy. Edwards joins the firm’s growing strategic communications practice. In her new role, Edwards will work with the firm’s strategists on public affairs and crisis communications work for nonprofits, coalitions and national trade associations. “Tiffany brings a lot of experience to the table and I’m delighted to welcome her to the Blue Engine team,” said Erik Smith, founder of Blue Engine. Blue Engine also announced TJ Adams-Falconer has joined the firm. He was most recently an intern in the White House press office, where he worked closely with the regional communication director coordinating briefings, monitoring regional news coverage and drafting press releases from the administration.

KGLOBAL HIRES DOLAN: Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm kglobal has hired Chuck Dolan as a senior vice president. Dolan's career in public affairs includes stints at Prism Public Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations, Cassidy & Associates, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, and the Democratic Governors Association. He was most recently at Prism as executive vice president. "We're truly honored to have Chuck join our firm. He brings a depth of experience in public affairs that is unmatched. His years of directing public affairs and communications campaigns on behalf of international and domestic clients is a great compliment to the rest of our team," said Darren Katz, president of kglobal, in a statement. Prism announced a merger with Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications last week.

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GM SWAPS SHOPS: The automotive designer and manufacturer signed Shockey Scofield Solutions on the heels of terminating a contract with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom at the turn of the year. S-3 Group’s John Scofield, Jeff Shockey and Mike Ference will field congressional inquiries about the company’s restructuring process following its $49.5 billion government bailout. General Motors spends about $2 million per quarter on lobbying, and retains the Duberstein Group, Roberti Associates, The Nickles Group, The Normandy Group, The Washington Tax & Public Policy Group, Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen and Bob Moss Associates.

NRF PREPARES FOR DATA WEEK: In advance of this week’s hearings on data security and the recent cyberattacks, the National Retail Federation is launching a new, coordinated campaign. NRF has brought on former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and retired Gen. Michael Hayden of the Chertoff Group to partner on strategic communications. The two hosted a member conference call on Friday, and today launched a new Beltway-targeted advertising campaign on cybertheft. NRF General Counsel and Senior Vice President Mallory Duncan is also set to testify before the Senate Banking subcommittee Monday afternoon. More on the initiative is at: www.nrf.com/datasecurity.

MCBEE ISSUES 2014 SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLOOK: McBee’s digital arm is out with a new report on digital media. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/1foK7Jp

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN REMEMBRANCE: The late actor — one of the most talented in a generation — as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos in “Charlie Wilson’s War.” http://bit.ly/1bjVPTc

ELSEWHERE IN THE INFLUENCE WORD:

EX-N.Y. ASSEMBLYMAN PUTS UFC LOBBY IN A TOUGH SPOT: “Supporters of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and mixed martial arts were stunned to see Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s disgraced former aide at the Jan. 27 pro-legalization campaign event. [Michael] Boxley was convicted in 2003 of sexually abusing a legislative staffer but has re-emerged as a lobbyist.” NY Post: http://bit.ly/1bV9wYN

FEDERAL ETHICS RULES CAN’T UNHINGE THE REVOLVING DOOR: “The experiences of the three Capitol Hill aides-turned-lobbyists — traced through interviews with political operatives and a review of public records — illustrate in new detail the gaping holes in rules governing Washington’s revolving door.” Eric Lipton and Ben Protess report for The New York Times:http://nyti.ms/1lwTSwl

LOBBYING KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS GETS PRICEY: “The Legislative Ethics Commission, in a new report, says businesses, organizations and lobbyists spent $16.4 million last year to try to influence state lawmakers to their way of thinking on hundreds of bills.” Lexington Herald-Leader: http://bit.ly/1eMYuph

DAVID JOLLY’S LOBBYING TIES INVOLVE LITTLE-KNOWN MILLIONAIRE: “As a lobbyist-turned-congressional candidate, David Jolly has repeatedly been attacked by Democrats who say he pushed for oil drilling off Florida's coast and represented a client who wanted to privatize Social Security — politically toxic issues in Florida. … [James] MacDougald is not well-known but has big ideas. He wrote a book called 'Unsustainable: How Big Government, Taxes and Debt Are Wrecking America.'” Tampa Bay Times: http://bit.ly/1dYgYlu

A FARM BILL ONLY A LOBBYIST COULD LOVE: “The legislation had languished for more than a year as Democrats and Republicans haggled over food stamps and crop subsidies. Two things broke the impasse: an unusual urban-rural alliance that hung together to preserve threatened programs; and lots (and lots) of money from lobbyists.” Bloomberg: http://buswk.co/1hVBQ1t

NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS:
Foundation for a Greater America (Super PAC)

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